Besigye Endures Harsh Prison Conditions: Denied Food from Relatives, Faces Starvation

Summary:

• However, Besigye has reportedly refused to consume the prison canteen food, citing distrust.

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KAMPALA: The former President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, Dr. Kizza Besigye, has reportedly been given two options in Luzira Prison: to eat prison food or starve, his confidants have revealed.

Among Besigye’s confidants are Kabale Municipality Member of Parliament, Dr. Nicholas Thadeus Kamara, Rubabo County MP Naboth Namanya, and Kampala’s Deputy Lord Mayor, Doreen Nyanjura. The trio stated that all food items they brought for Besigye were rejected by prison authorities.

MP Kamara and Nyanjura shared on their X (formerly Twitter) handles on Friday that items such as posho, milk, millet flour, honey, cooking oil, rice and Blue Band margarine were not allowed inside.

“We were informed that such items are sold at the prison canteen,” MP Kamara said.

However, Besigye has reportedly refused to consume the prison canteen food, citing distrust.

According to MP Kamara, Besigye expressed concern that he might starve to death before the date set by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Museveni and the Chief of Defense Forces.

Kamara further lamented that denying Besigye food from trusted sources is just one of several rights being denied.

“We no longer meet him physically during visits. Instead, we are forced to communicate with him via a prison phone booth,” MP Kamara disclosed.

He added, “As if that is not enough, Dr. Besigye is not allowed to interact with other prisoners or attend prayers. He is essentially in solitary confinement—a prison within a prison.”

MP Kamara expressed grave concern over Besigye’s treatment, suggesting it reflects an intent to harm him.

“I am now convinced, beyond any reasonable doubt, that President Museveni is determined to eliminate Besigye, just as his son Muhoozi recently implied,” MP Kamara said.

He concluded with a call to action, urging Ugandans to rise against what he described as an extreme form of injustice.

“This is too much. We need to stand up and fight. No retreat, no surrender,” he declared.